The Urban Mediator

This project, situated in Bankside, brought together students from BA Architecture at Central Saint Martins and a range of community and cultural groups to explore the potential of architecture as a form of public engagement.

Students were tasked with developing engagement activities to understand the challenges of the site and to gain greater understanding of different ways to develop a deep awareness of the social, cultural and political agendas of a ‘place.’ Working with arts, business and community groups, students began with investigations and research based on observation and interaction. This was followed by the development and deployment of on-site engagement activities, aimed at bringing local residents, businesses and visitors together to explore the issues the students had identified.

The culmination of the project, for the students, was the design of propositions that could support the ongoing activities of engagement that they had developed. Overall, the aim of the project was to encourage final year degree students to consider the potential for different forms of practice and engagement for their future.

Participating organisations/groups/individuals:

Bankside Residents Forum
BetterBankside
Synthia Griffin, Tate Modern
David Matchett, Borough Market
Jon Tollit, Gensler
Alex Wraight, Allies & Morrison
Daisy Froud
Verity-Jane Keefe
Adele Morris, Southwark Council
Delancy
Mint Street Park
Bankside Residents, Business and Visitors